RADIOHEAD OUTDOES ITS OWN '95 SHOW

by Matthew Regensburger

Radiohead, the band who showed up R. E. M, in 1995, played a sold out show at the Galaxy. They are touring to support their latest studio release, Ok, Computer. I have one word to describe the show, amazing. That's all there is to it. The show was completely fantastic.

I arrived late to the show, actually on time to see Radiohead. I missed all of the opening band's set. Teenage Fanclub had a mixed reception, according to those I talked to after the show. But when the lights went out for Radiohead, the place just went crazy. It was as if there was an electric current running through the crowd that had descended upon this small nightclub to pay tribute to one of England's best bands.

Radiohead came out and started in on their hour and one half set. After a few songs, lead singer Thom Yorke said "Thank you. I'm impressed with your knowledge of our songs." One of the fans was screaming at them to play this song and that song. After the next song, Yorke sneered "Shut up." That was the last time he said anything besides "thank you." Yorke bombarded the crowd with his almost whining and melancholy voice that went from fierce screaming to almost a whisper.

After the main set was played, the band left the stage promptly, resulting in chants of Radio - Head. They finally returned and played a few songs off Pablo, Honey, including the hit "Creep." After a four - song encore, they came back onto the stage and played one more tune off Ok, Computer. The crowd was left seeking more from the band that left them so abruptly. But to no avail, Radiohead did not return to the stage. For a show that was hyped up by the media, especially the Post - Dispatch, Radiohead lived up to the expectations, even exceeding them. They were tight, but seemed to flow together like it was natural to distort guitars in the fashions that they did.